Original subtitles

Previously on L .A. Law.

As many of you already know, Jonathan Rollins has joined us as an associate.

My father kept a mistress who made porno movies?

I was also the mother of his child.

Your?

My mother?

Not yours.

Your brother's.

Who is he? His name is Errol Farrell.

And I am very happy to say he's a lawyer right here in Los Angeles, like you and

like your father.

Errol Farrell, I'm Douglas Brockman.

I see you've been decorated.

You've got quite an eye, Judge.

You're the first person to notice.

I make it a point of noticing you, Miss Vasek.

What exactly are you hoping to accomplish by having lunch with my ex

It's just that if you're so concerned about Michael and me, I think the person

you should be talking to is Michael.

You're not interested in a second go -around?

I don't know.

I think we ought to take a little break, you and me.

I'm moving back to my place, Michael.

You think we need a prenuptial agreement?

No, I'm just being prudent.

Your willingness to sign this agreement is all anyone could ever ask for, and I

certainly couldn't ask for more than that.

You manipulative little bastard.

Ann, come on. This had nothing to do with your relatives or your family trust

funds. This was a test.

Look, it's all right here in black and white, Your Honor. We split the cost of

the espresso maker, which she took with her.

Here's the bill.

Half of which come to $64 .30.

Add to that what I paid for the last case of B .V. Private Reserve, 1980,

was $248 .40.

Her total indebtedness to me, $312 .70.

Your Honor, my ex...

significant other conveniently fails to take into account that I regularly pay

the phone bills, including phone rental and monthly surcharge. I have here

records of all 11 months, and the phone calls I made are indicated by my

initials. That was part of our agreement.

Here's my bottom line, Your Honor. He owes me $374, inclusive of finance

charges. Finance charges? Enough!

Both of you, I must confess that I'm thoroughly disheartened by testimony

both litigants.

People, you shared a life together.

And here you come into this courtroom bickering over phone taxes and who paid

the wine bill.

Where are your enduring values?

Trust, forgiveness, mutual support. What is happening to our society when young

people are so blasé about commitment and marriage?

If the relationship works, great. If it doesn't, no problem. Just settle up the

phone bill and no one's the poorer.

Well, let me tell you.

We're all the poorer.

Marriage and family life is the bedrock upon which our civilization stands.

Well, you didn't come to hear a sermon. I'm going to delay this decision for ten

days in the hopes that you will work out a more dignified and honorable parting

on your own.

We'll take a short recess.

Enter. I just wanted to tell you that I was incredibly moved by what you just

said.

Oh, Douglas, it's so sad.

What is?

The things that I love about you are the same things that make our relationship

so wrong.

What are you talking about?

The things you said about commitment and marriage being the bedrock of

civilization.

For better or for worse. That's true, but this is a different situation.

I couldn't live with myself if I thought I was wrecking your marriage. You're

not, I swear.

You mean it?

The smell of your perfume rockets me into orbit.

Oh, God.

Lock the door.

Take off your shirt.

Douglas. I want to fondle your hooters.

Moving along, Claflin versus Safari National.

Michael? Trial starts tomorrow.

What are our chances?

You know, I've been thinking that maybe it would be better to have Leland try

this case. Me? What? What we have is an age discrimination case with a senior

citizen client who was fired because of his date of birth. So what?

Well, what better way to show a jury that 60 -year -olds don't have to be put

out to pasture than to have them see Leland strut his stuff. That's great.

And plus the fact the client loves the idea.

All right, just a minute. Hold it.

When's the last time you actually tried a case, no offense?

Well, it was back when you had hair.

No offense.

Oh.

All right, a very simple trial. We'll go over the facts. You'll be ready

tomorrow.

Do it, Leland.

Go for it, Leland.

Michael and I will discuss this later. Move on, Douglas.

Turning to the O 'Halloran divorce.

I'm deposing our client's husband this afternoon.

Why is this matter being handled by a first -year associate?

It's just a few questions on the disposition of property, Douglas.

It should take less than an hour. Actually, I was thinking of stringing

a little. The guy gets frazzled pretty easily and a long deposition might wear

him down.

Well, I wouldn't, Jonathan. We've found that those types of antics can alienate

you among the legal community.

Probably best to just stay away from them.

But I really think that... No!

Rona versus Gradinger?

Discovery is complete, and I'm pushing for an accelerated trial date to try and

stir up some action. What are you doing with this case?

I gave it to her, and she's doing great.

People, why are all our starters on the bench?

She can do it, Douglas.

Fine. And when she loses, you can let Benny handle the appeal.

Douglas? Really? That's uncalled for.

Douglas, I can't believe you.

Oh, you broke it. I guess we're adjourned.

I haven't tried a case in seven years.

Leland, I've never seen anyone who could stand up and inspire trust in a jury

the way you can.

It was a long time ago.

You know how hard it is to win an age discrimination case?

Which is exactly why we need you. You can fire someone for almost anything.

Performance, personality clash.

All the defendant has to say is that he doesn't like them.

Leland, what is it?

Come here.

What's that?

which I'm supposed to be wearing, only I'm too vain.

Michael, there's a chance I won't even hear everything that happens in there.

Well, maybe you should just wear them. They make me feel old.

If I get beat up in court, I'll know I'm old.

I don't think I can do it. Well, now, that's a hell of a message. The old guy

can't cut it, so they send in the young legs?

It's not the age.

It's just the symptoms.

Maybe you should take the file back.

Leland.

Take it in your ear.

And I know, sir, your financial statement was prepared by the accounting

Colby and Bowden.

Could you tell us what occasion you need to select them?

Hey, I was going to... Wait a minute.

You spend an hour on obsolete bank records, and now you ask him why he

this accounting firm?

What possible... I'm sure you'll see the relevancy in a second council.

Why did you pick that firm, Mr. Halloran? Oh, they were recommended to

heard they did good work. But having been audited the year prior by

and Gilmore, wouldn't they have been a more expedient choice?

I wanted Colby and Bowdoin. Perhaps based on the fact that McLaughlin and

Gilmore refused to discount the value of the contents contained in the residence

at 927 North Palm. The value of said contents being directly an issue in this

divorce proceeding.

No, that had nothing to do with it.

Really?

All right, then, directing your attention to the items labeled household

I'd ask you to go through them with me.

Page one, item one. You're going to go through that whole book?

We'll be here a week.

We seek the complete truth, sir. The accomplishment of which can only be

ascertained by conscientious and exhaustive effort.

Page one, item one. The brass bookend.

Valued according to this at $75, the pair.

Oh, for God's sake.

You got a minute? Sure. I brought you a little pizza.

Strasburg goose pate with truffles.

Oh, it's beautiful, Stuart.

Thought we might have a little romantic dinner tonight.

I can't. I have a Women's Bar Association meeting tonight.

No problem.

Just hold dinner till you get home? Oh, I don't know how late I'll be.

And besides, it's got so much cholesterol.

Why don't you have it, Stuart?

Look, Ann, I was wrong, okay? I was wrong.

I was...

Testing your love.

Because I was too insecure to accept the fact that you could love me just for

me.

Finally, I understand that I just have to risk everything, you know?

To fly without a net. And I'm prepared to do it again.

I love you. I love you too, Stuart.

Why aren't we sleeping together?

It's been like over a week.

I've been tired, Stuart, that's all. Oh, tired.

Yeah, I see. Yeah, and I've got a lot of work to do, so I promise we'll talk

about it when we get home.

Okay? Great.

Here.

Try some of this instead.

It's beautiful.

What is it?

Strasbourg goose pâté with truffles.

No, keep it.

Keep it.

Make sandwiches for Eric with it. Stick it in his lunchbox with his Twinkies and

his chocolate milk.

It's a little high in cholesterol, but a five -year -old's basically

unconflicted about stuff like that anyway.

Forget it, Scott.

This is your third continuance. And if your client has not paid your fee yet,

that is seriously not my problem.

Bye.

Excuse me.

Miss Van Owen? Yeah.

They said I should see you about this.

Oh, great.

The prelim's not till tomorrow, but that's okay. As long as you're here,

Sweet, I've been wanting to go over your testimony anyway.

Yeah, but that's just it. I'm not going to be able to do it. Mrs. Sweet, I'm not

sure you understand.

This is a subpoena, an order from the court that you have to come and testify.

I changed my mind.

Well, you can't really do that.

I've got your statement to the police that you saw Maurice Crumman's gun down

Tanya Drummond's, and if you were trying to go back on that statement now...

I would have to do my job and ask the judge to hold you in contempt of court.

So what are you telling me, jail?

Try and understand my position, Mrs. Sweet.

An innocent six -year -old has been murdered. And if you don't testify, I

prove my case.

Yeah, but if I do testify, I'll be just as dead as that little girl.

Has someone in Crumman's gang threatened you? They don't have to. You live in

Watts. You just know.

Because he's under age. Things you have no idea about. Can I buy you a cup of

coffee, Mrs. Sweet?

I sympathize.

Well, anything we can do, let us know.

She said before, Mrs. Sweet, that there are things that I don't know or

understand.

Actually, I do.

I was shot by a gang member, and I remember what my first reaction was.

I was going to get as far away from here as I could, get a job and a house on

the west side, and just pretend that other world didn't exist.

But I didn't.

I couldn't.

Because I care about the Tanya Drummonds of this world.

And so do you.

You tried to save that little girl's life after the shooting.

You helped the police arrest her killer. You're not the kind of woman who can

just walk away.

I have a son, Miss Van Owen, and thank God he's not like those other boys.

So far, he's stayed away from the drugs and the gang.

Last year, he brought home four A's and a B. His counselor said that he can get

him a scholarship.

But if I take that witness stand, that gang is going to come after me, and

yet, my boy.

We have a witness protection program, Mrs. Sweet. We can move you and your son

to a new place, a safer place, away from the gangs and the drugs and the

violence. Where is that, Disneyland?

I seem too much to believe in fairy tales, Miss Van Owen.

Okay, no fairy tales. This is a hard thing I'm asking you to do, but you are

very brave woman. That is why you did the right thing before, and that is why

you are going to do it tomorrow in that courtroom.

And in the meantime...

You are going to have to trust me that I can protect you and your son.

And if I don't, you're going to put me in jail.

I wouldn't have any other choice.

Really, Mrs. Sweet, it's going to be okay. I promise.

And the activewear line was your concept, was it not? It was.

And then they decide my division should be run by a younger person, more

commensurate with the image of the clothing.

Your Honor, please.

Counsel is leading the witness. The responses are conclusory, self -serving.

This is very upsetting.

I'm sorry, Your Honor. I'll try to evoke more enjoyable answers.

Sidebar, Your Honor. Yes?

I know it's been years since he's been in court, but that doesn't excuse him

from the evidentiary rules currently in effect, which were adopted, I believe,

in the 1950s.

You are out of line. We all know why he's here, Judge, to show the jury that

senior citizens can still dress up and lead productive lives, but that's not...

If Mr. McKenzie deviates from any proper courtroom procedures, I'll rule on it,

Counselor. So far, he's not done so.

Now step back.

Continue. And could you state for the record your salary at the time of your

termination? I was making $152 ,500 a year.

And did you attempt to find other employment after the discharge?

I still try, every single day.

Nobody's breaking down the door to hire a 64 -year -old who just got fired.

Thank you, Mr. Clapham.

Your witness.

Mr. Claplin, when Safari National made the decision to franchise two years ago,

this meant more work for you, didn't it? I made the decision to franchise.

It was my idea to open up the outlets and... But the point is, they gave you

more job responsibilities, didn't they? They didn't give me anything.

I created the position and devised its functions.

Move to strike, non -responsive. It's directly responsive.

You're implying I couldn't live up to the job requirements when it was my

province to define those requirements.

Your Honor, please instruct the witness. He has a lawyer to help argue the

evidentiary matters.

Your Honor, please instruct counsel.

I'd never offer help to those who don't need it. I object. I object. I

absolutely object.

This damn bureaucracy drives me crazy.

I promise this woman detectives... Don't detective me, Grace.

What am I supposed to do? I've been on the phone all morning long. I keep

running into the same damn wall.

Without proof of a direct threat, we cannot get her immediate relocation.

is the lamest, most moronic... That whole community is so intimidated by the

gangs, their mere presence constitutes a direct threat.

God, Milton.

How am I supposed to force this woman to testify if I have no way of protecting

her?

Okay.

I'll get her to the courthouse.

I'll take her home.

I'll sit with her in the courthouse, and I will protect and patrol her home as

best as I can.

I thought you said you were going away on vacation.

Looks like I lied.

I owe you.

What were you doing last night? I didn't hear you come in.

After the meeting, a bunch of us went out.

Carol Fulgate split up with her husband.

You're kidding.

So we commiserated over a couple of bowls of peanuts and too much cheap

I didn't get in until after 2 a .m., so I didn't want to wake you. I slept in

the guest room.

Well,

here's four ounces of Beluga Triple O and a bottle of Pink Dom Perignon.

I thought we'd jump into bed, have a little snack, see what develops.

Oh, Stuart, that is so sweet.

And normally I'd love it.

But I'm a little hungover.

And I'm holding water from all the salt and the peanuts.

And there's so much sodium in the caviar.

I think I'd better just stick with celery and mineral water today.

Victor.

Hi,

sir. Hi. Do you like caviar?

Oh, I love it.

How about expensive champagne?

Well, if you trust my arm.

Now, you wouldn't by any chance have a hot date tonight, would you?

As a matter of fact, Stuart, yes, I do. Yeah, well, watch it.

Have yourself a party.

Maybe you'll get lucky.

Mrs. Sweet, what is your occupation?

I'm a licensed vocational nurse at Martin Luther King Hospital.

Drawing your attention to September 18th, 1987, did...

Did anything unusual occur as you were returning home from work?

I had just got off the bus, and I was on my way home when I saw this blue car

turn the corner and stop near the grammar school.

How many people were in that car?

Three or four.

Do you recognize any of them in this courtroom today?

Him. He had the gun. Let the record reflect that the witness has indicated

defendant, Maurice Crimmins. Lying bitch.

Bailiff, remove that individual.

Now, the next person who speaks out of line in this courtroom will be held in

contempt. You all understand that back there?

Proceed.

What happened after the car slowed down? He stuck the shotgun through the

window. He yelled the name of his gang.

Then he started shooting at these boys who were standing in front of this

And the boys started running. I don't think he hit any of them. He drove off,

I just wanted to go home.

But then I heard her crying.

Who was that?

The little girl, Tanya Drummond.

She was on the playground behind the fence.

The bullets must have gone through the chain link.

And hit her instead of them.

So what did you do? I yelled to somebody to call an ambulance.

Then I tried to help her.

I tried to stop the bleeding.

I tried to get her to breathing.

When the police came, she was gone.

What did you tell the police when they arrived?

I told him Maurice Crimmins shot her.

Now, you knew him by name?

He was the only one I did know.

His mother and his sisters used to live next door to me.

Thank you, Mrs. Sweet.

I have nothing further at this time.

As the hour is late, we will recess until 10 a .m. tomorrow morning, at

time, Mr. Muhlenberg, you may begin your cross -examination.

This court is in recess until 10 o 'clock tomorrow morning.

You were great. Thank you.

My home phone number is written on the back. If you need anything, I want you

call. I'll take you home now. I'll pick you up in the morning, okay?

You know, for the time being, you shouldn't have to leave your apartment

anything except to come to court. I'll make arrangements to have your shopping

and whatever else you need done for you. I don't like having people to do things

for me. I'm used to doing for myself.

We're still working on relocating you.

It's taking a lot of kicking and screaming, and it may not even happen

the prelim's over.

But by the time of trial, I promise.

Hey,

man, hold the door.

Page 37, item 206.

The Royal Copenhagen Christmas dishes.

I have no idea. What, more than $20?

Yeah, I suppose.

More than $50? No way.

$30 tops.

So when you stated on the record just now that you had no idea, that was a

wasn't it? Mr. Rawlings, I really must object to this protracted... Well,

whoopee. This little snot grills me for two straight days and you finally get

around to objecting? Thank you. Can we go off the record? No, on the record,

item 207, the Easter plates.

Damn it. I note for the record that Attorney Kilbourne is trying to disrupt

orderly flow of this proceeding. You want to see disruption?

I'll show you disruption.

Let the record reflect that Attorney Kilbourne has risen manifesting violent

propensities. Excuse me.

Mr. Arlinds.

Could I see you a minute?

You know what this kid's doing.

Pardon us for a second.

With my understanding that this deposition should have taken an hour at

I'm wearing him down, sir. He's about to give up. I can... No!

What if other firms did this to us?

tying up Michael Kuzak or Arnold Becker for two full days? Do you have any idea

how much that would cost us or the client? I am mindful of your job to look

the big picture of running a law firm, sir, but my job is to take each case one

at a time and try to win, which is what I'm going to do with this case. What

you're going to do is compromise the integrity of this firm. It violates

norm of professional courtesy.

Our client's not paying for professional courtesy. She wants a satisfactory

settlement, which is... Don't push us, young man.

The partners are very upset, including Leland McKenzie. Now wrap this thing up

immediately.

Sorry

for

the disturbance.

Now, Mr. O 'Halloran.

We're turning our attention to the Danish seasonal dishes, specifically the

Easter series. That's page 37, item 207.

So then, we get a message from the coroner.

One of the jurors refusing to deliberate until he knows the defendant's

astrological sign. Oh, you're kidding.

The judge already dismissed the alternates. I say, judge, it's open and

drug sale to an undercover cop. Can't we just excuse this guy and proceed with

11? No sale.

Myth trial.

We have to start all over again.

Mickey.

Mickey, you know Jim Ailey?

Hi. How you doing?

Sit in. I gotta head home anyway.

See you tomorrow, Jim.

You know, I called you a couple times. I've been so underwater with this

Freeman. I'm sorry.

You know, I can hardly hear myself thinking here. You want to go someplace

quiet?

Nicky, I am so beat.

Besides, I just ordered a hamburger.

Cancel it.

Cancel it?

Grace, you were right.

Look, we have a lot to talk about.

I know.

And it's not that I don't want to. It's just that now is not a good time.

Well, what do I have to do? Make an appointment?

life of six -year -old Tonya Drummond.

Billy, turn that up.

Gene Kasabian is live with more on this tragic story.

Sherry, the friends and neighbors of Nani Sweet are grieving tonight over her

brutal murder.

Investigators told me she was gunned down a short time ago in the entranceway

her home here in Watts.

Police are now looking for any possible witnesses to that shooting.

Earlier today, Sweet had testified at the preliminary hearing of Maurice

Crimmins, the gang member charged with the murder of little Tanya Drummonds, a

crime that shocked and saddened this neighborhood.

Thank you.

I got to go.

Excuse me, ma 'am. Would you like to talk to Julius Sweet?

Trust me.

Julius, I'm Grace Fenowen from the district attorney's office, and this is

Detective Levine. Julius?

We want you to know how deeply we regret your mother's death.

I hear Maurice Crimson's gonna get out of jail tomorrow.

How can that be?

Because your mother... Because your mother was killed before his lawyer

cross -examine her, the judge is gonna have to dismiss the case.

We're going to get your mother's killer son. Count on it. Someone's going to get

her killer son, but it ain't going to be you. Yeah, well, give me a chance to

prove you wrong, okay? How you going to do that? I mean, who's going to testify?

Everybody in this neighborhood knows who killed 90 Sweet.

Everybody in this neighborhood knows what happened when you opened your

and everybody knows you got no power to change it.

Julius, if I believe that, then I believe there's no chance here. Not at

But I don't believe that, and neither did your mother.

That's why she was willing to tell you. She was not willing. You made her and

then you didn't do a damn thing to protect her.

Now her death is on your hands, lady.

You killed the both of you. Now just get off my property.

Julius, now what mattered to your mother more than anything else was that you

stay out of the gangs and stay in school and make something out of yourself.

Now don't dishonor her life by trying to avenge her death. That'd be very, very

stupid, Julius.

Do you hear me?

Very stupid.

It was a difficult conclusion, and I would never have made the decision to

discharge him if I hadn't been 100 % certain it was in the best interest of

company. The man simply couldn't do the job.

Thank you, Mr. Ackerson.

Nothing further.

Mr. Ackerson, when it came time to replace my client, you told your

to look for someone preferably in his 40s or younger, didn't you?

Yeah. So it's fair to assume if two candidates come in equally qualified,

years old and the other 40, you'd choose the younger man, correct?

But you see, that isn't really fair.

Because regardless of their present abilities, one is going to have many

years of productivity.

So certainly one of the factors that I'd have to look at is which person is

going to develop and grow and contribute to the company for the longest period

of time. I see. And which person would that be?

The 40 -year -old.

Well, did this presumption in favor of you impact on your decision to discharge

William Claflin? No. He was fired because sales in his division weren't up

expectations.

There was potential that he wasn't realizing, and we felt we could do

Your Honor, may I approach the witness?

Do you recognize these annual reviews regarding the performance of my client

the last four years?

Yes.

I wrote them.

1983.

Increased sales of 28%. Blowing accolades with a recommendation for a

1984. Sales up 27%. There's more praise and another raise.

1985, sales up 31%. There's more kudos and still another raise.

1986, sales up 37%. That's the biggest jump yet.

And he gets fired.

Well, tell me, Mr. Ackerson.

What did Mr. Claflin do or not do in 1986 to cause this sudden change of

opinion? We felt that with more aggressiveness, more zealous leadership,

should have been generating even higher revenues.

Did you ever tell my client, be more aggressive, be more zealous? No. Did you

ever make one single suggestion that he'd do anything differently?

No. Isn't it true, sir, every candidate that you interviewed to replace my

client? Was under the age of 45?

Yes, but that doesn't mean... And isn't it true, sir, of the seven executives

you fired in the last two years, six were over the age of 60?

But that doesn't mean anything. And isn't it true, sir, of all the annual

reviews you wrote, only one made mention of his age, and that's the one that

says he should be fired?

That's just a coincidence.

The 1986 review, Mr. Ackerson, read the second to the last sentence.

Your Honor.

Overruled. Read the sentence.

Mr. Claflin is now 63 years old.

Now read the line immediately following that sentence.

This is all taken out of context. No, read it.

It's my suggestion that Mr. Claflin be terminated at this time.

Don't you just love a good coincidence?

Objection. Withdrawn.

Nothing further?

Want one?

What is it? Oh,

Stuart, my favorite.

White licorice drops.

Take one.

Kind of early.

Besides, you know me. Once I have one, I'll have them all.

I can't stop once I get started.

Morning, Benny.

This one's for you, Miss Kelsey.

Thanks, Benny.

Do you like these?

What are they?

Licorice. How come they're not black?

Taste one.

Good. Here, take them all. Save me from myself.

See, thanks, Miss Kelsey.

No thanks.

Ann?

Yeah? What, are you trying to punish me?

Of course not.

Oh, with all due respect, I think that's exactly what you're doing.

You know, you're being just as controlling and manipulative as you

being. Stuart, that's just not true. You won't accept one single gift from me.

You don't want to make love?

You won't even let me hold you. I call that punishment.

I plead no low contendere.

What? I'm not saying you're right, but I'll take it under advisement. Oh,

Thank you very much, Counselor.

Thank you.

You want to see me, Arnie? Yeah, Jonathan.

Two things.

First of all, Mr. O 'Halloran caved in on the divorce settlement.

That's great.

I say he couldn't take it anymore and signed a fantastic agreement.

Our client's ecstatic.

Oh, I knew it. Second, McKenzie and Brackman aren't ecstatic. They didn't

your attitude. They didn't like your tactics.

They want me to reprimand you for your behavior.

So... Bad boy, Jonathan.

Bad, bad boy.

All right.

Don't let us ever catch you doing anything like this again.

Are we clear?

Absolutely. Oh, my man.

Go away!

I said go away!

Uh, you down there. Did you find it? My bailiff lost her contact lens.

Got it!

I'll be out of your way now.

State your business.

Dougie, am I sensing a less than cordial reception for your only brother?

Yes, I have a very full calendar.

What's on your mind? I got a live one, Dougie. Get this.

I'm at a newsstand in Wilshire when all of a sudden, ba -boom.

An old lady in a Jaguar plows into a crosswalk, lays this poor guy out flat.

Plus which, now I discover she has a bit of a drinking history.

Errol, I have no interest in hearing about your low -rent ambulance chasing.

Correction, high rent. The guy in question happens to be part owner in a

video stores all over the South Coast, which is where you come in. Hey, look,

the minute a Tony guy like this walks into a dump like mine, I'm finished,

right? So I'm thinking, how about I tell him I'm a partner at McKenzie Brackman?

Are you crazy?

No. All I'm asking is a little favor, which is let me partake in some of your

primo office space when no one's using it. Where's the harm?

The answer is unequivocally no. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do.

Out of curiosity, does your wife know you're carrying on with that nearsighted

tootsie you had under your desk just now? That is a slanderous and completely

false assumption.

Not to worry. We're brothers, remember?

Brothers help each other.

Like you're going to help me with office space nights and weekends.

I'll need some letterhead stationery, too, while you're at it.

Nice seeing you, Dougie.

Your lovely bride. What's her name? Sheila?

What about the three of us putting a night together in some time, huh?

Hi.

Did you find out how it happened?

Well, about 7 o 'clock last night, she sent a neighborhood kid to the store.

Damn it.

I told her we'd do her shopping.

Maybe she figured she could get a quart of milk without us.

Anyway, they must have been watching her house.

They beat the kid up, sent a trigger man back. When she opened the door, he

killed her.

Will the kid testify to anything?

He says he doesn't know who they were.

That's great.

Crimmins and his gang walk away from both killings scot -free.

Crimmins is dead.

Oh, God.

Julius.

He's in custody.

Detention hearing's tomorrow morning, 10 a .m.

Any witnesses?

Crimmins was shot on a crowded street in broad daylight. Of course there's no

witness.

Except us.

The DA expects us to testify to the fact that Julius expressed his intent.

Well, I guess it wasn't enough for me just to get his mother killed.

Might as well ruin his life too, huh?

Come on, Grace.

It just happened to land on your death.

That's right.

But when it landed, one person was dead.

Now there are three.

There is a common belief that the elderly are people without promise,

capacity to develop or improve, without the ability to perform as ably as our

youth. So entrenched is that mindset that I won't even bother to take issue

it because I know if my case comes down to having to prove that old folks can

still cut it as well as young, I might as well quit and go home right now.

Fortunately, I don't have to do that.

You see, there is a law that says you can't fire someone because of his age.

And the only thing I have to convince you people of is that he broke it.

easy. Not only is the statistical evidence overwhelming, but he has

right here in court that a 40 -year -old is, per se, better than a 60 -year

-old. His case is so bad, ladies and gentlemen, one has to wonder how did he

think he could get away with it?

Well, the answer is...

Employers get away with it all the time. The worst thing about age

discrimination is that it's so damn forgivable.

You fire someone because of the color of his skin and everyone thinks it's

repugnant. You fire someone because he's 60 years old because you think he won't

grow or that he has little future or that he's past his prime and everyone

nods and says, hmm, makes sense.

Now, I'm not asking you to look at the defendant and be morally outraged at

he did.

I'd like you to be, but I'm not asking for that.

I just want you to recognize what he did and recognize its illegality, and I

want you to remember that the defendant's illegal conduct served to

client over a million dollars in salary, not to mention his self -worth.

And his very identity.

Now, all you have to do is go back to that jury room and follow the law.

And if you do that, you can give back to my client his pride.

You can give him his self -esteem. But most of all, members of the jury, you

give him the money.

Oh, thank you, Your Honor.

Do you have anything further, Ms. Farrow, to tie the defendant to the

at this time, Your Honor. Well, then, based on the insufficiency of the

case, the court will grant the defendant's motion to dismiss charges

Julius Sweet.

Defendant is hereby released from custody.

I think when witnesses come forward, we can always

refile.

Right.

So you had to join the gang, huh?

The one thing your mother was afraid of. My mother's dead. And you're a killer.

Does that make you feel good? You proud of yourself?

Get out of my face. I'm in your face. Step off my man. Now you shut up, man.

Just shut up.

See, man, you had something these dudes don't have. You had a future.

Now you've got nothing.

Now you're just a punk. You're just another punk who'll probably wind up

down in the pool of blood.

Way to be, Julius.

Way to be.

Let's go.

We're losing, Van Owen. Our side is losing.

We, the jury, find in favor of the plaintiff and order the defendant to pay

damages in the amount of $1 .8 million.

The jury is dismissed with the appreciation of

the court.

Congratulations,

Van Owen.

I don't know how to thank you. Well, thank you.

Let me make a suggestion.

Let's settle this for $900 ,000.

But they just gave me almost $2 million.

Why the hell should I settle for that?

Because they'll appeal, tie up the judgment for two years, maybe longer.

You told me you wanted to start your own business. If you're really serious

about that, you're going to need the money.

You're not getting any younger, you know. Yeah, but $900 ,000?

Well, it beats waiting two years for a verdict that could possibly be trimmed

down and maybe overturned.

No.

My advice is take the $900 ,000 today and get on with your life.

May I see you, Mr. Lewis? Excuse me.

Tell your client we'll cut the judgment in half if he inks the check today.

I'll think it over, maybe. Tell him now. The offer's good for five minutes.

Look, I can appeal this thing, you know. Do yourself a favor, Mr. Lewis.

Exercise a little of that personal growth you young people are so good at.

Ditch your ego and do what's best for your client.

And do it now.

I'll recommend the offer to my client.

Tell him he's got four minutes left.

Put it over there.

Is this Kelsey?

Yeah.

What is it?

Sign here, please.

Ew, smells like fish.

Thank you.

Um, Fannie, would you help me open this box, please?

Sure, Miss Kelsey.

Look,

lobster.

Yeah, they're delivered specially from a place called the Lobster Shack in

Waterville, Maine.

Oh, Stuart.

My favorite thing from my favorite place in the whole world. How did you know?

I remembered you told me a story about this little girl who loved the lobsters

in Waterville, Maine.

They're exactly two pounds apiece.

Four of them.

Oh, Stuart, I can't believe you remembered.

Sure, I remember, Dan.

I love you.

Stuart, you were right.

I was just as controlling and manipulative as you were, only I

it.

You are the sweetest, the most generous, the sexiest man I have

ever known.

And I want desperately to take these lobsters home and eat them and make mad,

passionate love to you.

In which order?